Ryan J. Russell
Pittsburgh
Summary
Dynamic leader with extensive experience in senior leadership in the public and private sectors, excelling in strategic planning and project management. Achieved over $775 million in export impact while fostering stakeholder engagement and team leadership. Proven track record in client development and negotiation, driving significant growth in international trade initiatives.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
Pittsburgh
01.2023 - Current
- Directed operations across Western and Central Pennsylvania to achieve international trade and investment objectives.
- Led team of trade professionals across two offices to surpass performance targets within budget.
- Consistently deliver over 250% of annual metric goals for export and investment successes, clients assisted, and new clients developed.
- Generated over $775 million in export impact, and more than 3,400 jobs created or supported.
- Collaborated with local stakeholders to enhance leadership presence through strategic events.
- Collaborated with business, congressional, and government leaders to strengthen U.S. commercial and national security interests.
Global Environmental Technologies Team Leader
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
Pittsburgh
03.2018 - 12.2022
- Planned and led the implementation of the Global Environmental Technologies Team strategic plan, including programming, distributing work assignments, budgeting, metrics, resource management, and professional development for a team of 220+ global trade professionals.
- Quadrupled annual export WINs value from $40 million in FY19 to $160 million in FY21.
- Increased export clients assisted by 54% between FY20 and FY21.
- Spearheaded innovative strategies, oversaw operations, and managed team members to support U.S. exporters and partners, exceed agency metrics, and expand the U.S. exporter base at trade programs, including:
- Identified and piloted new technology tools at major trade events such as WEFTEC and WasteExpo to better serve U.S. exporters’ access to market intelligence, market entry strategy tools, and matchmaking with international buyers and partners. As a result of piloting new tools for the organization and growing the number of facilitated meetings by more than 50% year-on-year, I was awarded the ITA Quarterly Star Award.
- Leveraged deep relationships with industry associations, inter-agency partners, the Secretary’s Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee, and multilateral banks to supervise the delivery of 50+ programs highlighting export opportunities for U.S. industry clients.
- Created and delivered industry-specific market intelligence and research reports, including through management of an industry website to provide actionable content to a U.S. industry client audience that grew 30% over three years.
- Secured and managed $20,000 average annual budget to provide professional development training needs identified by team members; created content in coordination with key industry association partners.
- Volunteered on numerous organization-wide working groups to provide colleagues better resources and tools to accomplish mission objectives, including focus on event and technology solutions, emerging clean technology industry trends, and training and development programs for coworkers.
Senior International Trade Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
Pittsburgh
04.2013 - 03.2018
- Assisted U.S. companies on successful export strategy development and planning, market identification, and implementation globally, resulting in U.S. job creation, and contributing to an 11% increase in exports from Pennsylvania between 2017-2019 (prior to the pandemic).
- Supervised and grew a robust internship program of 3-5 interns per semester to support our local office.
- Managed major trade promotion events and led teams to support the success of U.S. companies, including:
- Domestic co-lead for the successful U.S. Partner Country presence at Hannover Messe 2016 where we recruited and led a record delegation of 450+ U.S. exporters and economic development organizations.
- Led two successful U.S. Industry Programs for U.S. civil nuclear companies at the IAEA in Vienna, Austria.
- Managed independent trade missions, supported three Trade Winds trade missions, led counseling programs at major tradeshows, and planned and instituted a host of local export education events.
- Grew the local U.S. exporter client base by identifying new exporters and expanding local partner relationships.
- Assumed Sub-Sector leadership roles and actively engaged in activities on the Energy, Environmental, and Advanced Manufacturing Teams that allowed me to scale my trade expertise and deepen my network across the country.
Foreign Language Student
U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute
Arlington
09.2012 - 03.2013
- Intensive Romanian language training for preparation for an assignment to the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
- Attended weekly seminars and discussions on history, politics, and economy of Romania.
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Washington
06.2011 - 09.2012
- Developed and delivered intelligence analyses on key global issues to the Secretary of State and senior policymakers.
- Reviewed and assessed hundreds of intelligence reports daily to identify critical issues to bring to the attention of senior officials.
- Represented the State Department in negotiations and meetings with officials from other U.S. intelligence agencies.
Consular Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt
Frankfurt
01.2009 - 05.2011
- Supervised an international staff of 18 employees and allocated resources while serving extended periods as Acting Section Chief of the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) and Passport sections.
- Motivated the team to exceed established performance goals and timelines.
- Provided guidance and direction in personnel performance evaluations.
- Represented section views and project status at senior Consulate leadership meetings.
- Enforced national security and counter-terrorism policies as the adjudicator for more than 10,000 visa applications.
- Served over 6,000 U.S. citizens living in Germany with passport, reports of birth abroad, and emergency services.
Reporting Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York
09.2008 - 12.2008
- Wrote analytical reports on speeches by more than 50 world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly to help inform U.S. policy formulation.
- Protected U.S. interests as the lead U.S. negotiator in successful international deliberations over four United Nations resolutions on development and finance issues.
- Advised and orally briefed senior U.S. Government officials on strategy and negotiation tactics to secure favorable key United Nations decisions.
Economic Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Hanoi
Hanoi
06.2005 - 07.2008
- Served as the lead economic officer on bilateral and multilateral trade issues.
- Monitored, analyzed and reported on Vietnam's adherence to its international trade commitments and obligations; working with counterparts in the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, reduced the number of issues by over 50 percent in the first two years following Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization.
- Implemented programs to end Vietnam's violation of over $30 million in U.S. companies' intellectual property rights.
- Researched and reported on trade data to support investigations into possible dumping and tariff barriers to create a more favorable trade and business environment for U.S. firms.
International Affairs Specialist
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Washington
05.2004 - 06.2005
- Prepared Congressional testimony, briefing materials and quarterly Congressional reports on Iraq reconstruction progress.
- Developed financial matrix to update Congress and the public on progress of $18.4 billion in reconstruction aid.
- Wrote more than 20 speeches and briefing reports for the Iraq Assistance Coordinator and senior officials.
General Manager
International Quality Consultants, Inc.
Butler
09.1999 - 07.2003
- Led business development, recruiting, and profit/loss efforts for transportation and energy industry consulting firm.
- Supervised an office staff of three and a field staff of 60 individuals throughout the United States and internationally.
- Executed management strategy for complex multi-million-dollar projects in the United States, Europe and Japan.
- Managed a multi-million-dollar budget while increasing overall market share by 34% and annual profits by 22%.
Education
Masters of Arts - International Affairs and Conflict Resolution
The George Washington University
Washington, DC05.2005
economics
Albert Ludwigs Universitaet
Freiburg, Germany07.1999
Bachelors of Science - Economics and International Relations, Certificate in Western European Studies
The University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA04.1998
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Client development
- Stakeholder engagement
- Leadership in Government Agencies
- Conflict Resolution
- Negotiation Training
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Salesforce CRM
- US Citizen registered for Selective Service
Citizenship
U.S. Citizen registered for Selective Service
Honors And Affiliations
- Department of Commerce Bronze Star and Timothy J. Hauser Memorial Award Winner
- Certified Global Business Professional from the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators
- Extensive professional training in management, leadership, and Six Sigma
- 10 Department of State Individual and Group Honor Awards
Languages
German
Full Professional
Vietnamese
Limited
Romanian
Limited
Affiliations
- Board Member for local community organizations
- Mentor
- Youth sports coach and referee
Accomplishments
- U.S. Department of Commerce and Department of State Individual Award Winner
- Certified Global Business Professional from the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators
- Extensive professional training in leadership, management, and process optimization
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Director
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
01.2023 - Current
Global Environmental Technologies Team Leader
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
03.2018 - 12.2022
Senior International Trade Specialist
U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service
04.2013 - 03.2018
Foreign Language Student
U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute
09.2012 - 03.2013
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Intelligence and Research
06.2011 - 09.2012
Consular Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt
01.2009 - 05.2011
Reporting Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to the United Nations
09.2008 - 12.2008
Economic Officer
U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy Hanoi
06.2005 - 07.2008
International Affairs Specialist
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
05.2004 - 06.2005
General Manager
International Quality Consultants, Inc.
09.1999 - 07.2003
Masters of Arts - International Affairs and Conflict Resolution
The George Washington University
economics
Albert Ludwigs Universitaet
Bachelors of Science - Economics and International Relations, Certificate in Western European Studies
The University of Pittsburgh